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Career moves call for research, preparation

Statistics reveal that a person will change careers three to seven times in a lifetime. The last thing anyone wants is for the job-changing process to be an emotional roller coaster ride, full of worry and fear, particularly if the candidate is holding down a current job that must be performed in an acceptable manner during the search.

There are several steps that can lead to job-changing success, as well as decrease stress, expand opportunities and ensure a complete understanding of available options.

Anyone considering a vocational change should complete four steps.

1. Evaluate options and determine the career you want. It is not uncommon for a person to select the wrong college degree, waste thousands of dollars, and then end up in a position that isn’t enjoyable. An individual who did not go to college might spend years in a career that is not fulfilling, watching time slip by and knowing there has to be more to life.

The solution is a career test, such as The Strong Interest Inventory.

Most professional positions, as well as similar positions in multiple job categories, are covered in the Strong test. After the test is completed, all jobs will be statistically ranked, with the jobs the candidate should seek listed first, and those that should be steered clear of ranked last. Results also will reflect leadership skills, vocational personality traits, the candidate’s ability to be a team player, and whether the candidate could handle pursuing further education. By utilizing other resources, information can be obtained for each identified position, such as salary, job descriptions, training or education required, as well as predictions for job or industry security.

2. Prepare a résumé. A résumé will make or break a candidate’s chances of getting an interview for a new position. This step can cause a lot of stress when it comes to deciding what to include and what to leave out of a résumé. The candidate doesn’t want to seem like a braggart, but it’s also important that the candidate not undersell his experience and abilities. Avoid “cookie-cutter” résumé packages. A successful résumé should be different, and not use the same, common phrases as other applicants’ résumés. To stand apart from the crowd, the candidate might want to consider hiring a professional to complete this step, particularly if the candidate lacks excellent writing skills. Otherwise, countless frustrating hours will be wasted as the candidate struggles to accurately reflect skill sets and professional experience. Even worse, after experiencing all that stress, the candidate may not be selected for interviews, having failed to convince résumé screeners that he or she is the right professional fit.

3. Perform a salary survey. This step will enable the applicant to successfully negotiate and maximize salary potential. Salary Web sites and the Missouri Career Center are excellent sources. Candidates also can contact area companies and ask what their pay ranges are for the position being considered.

4. Give a successful face-to-face interview. This step is extremely important, and there are good, better and best ways to verbalize the truth during an interview. For example, if a candidate dislikes someone’s suit, he can tell the person that they look horrible and should never wear it again, or the candidate can find a better way to convey his thoughts. The same can be said for answering questions during an interview, and that’s why winging an interview – going into it unprepared – is a significant mistake. A job interview is a critical meeting, and candidates should practice answering potential questions in advance. Make sure answers don’t sound canned or memorized. If confidence is low, candidates should obtain professional help to hone their interview skills.

Career transitions can be exciting and radically improve candidates’ lifestyles and quality of life. The four keys outlined here will unlock the door to a brighter future.